It’s been a bit agonising to have to sit on my hands whilst waiting for IBC to announce this, but Blackmagic Design have added a passive m4/3 option to the Blackmagic camera.

This is a really significant step. It means there are now essentially an alternative mount to choose from. m4/3 is a much more appropriate lens mount option considering the sensor size is nearly perfectly matched to m4/3.

As the mount will initially be passive, you should think about this mount if you are happy with manual IRIS lenses. Most likely you’re going to be putting on something like an adaptor to Nikon, C Mount, or PL lens mounts.

You can of course also go for the growing range of manual focus and iris m4/3 lenses like the Voigtlander 17.5mm F0.96 or even the SLR magic novelty-lenses.

This is really great news because it now means there is a hug number of lenses that can be potentially adapted to the mount, including of course, PL mount.

So to recap, the m4/3 version will be IDENTICAL to the EF version in every other respect, and you should be able to switch your order without penalty (dealer dependent).

I think I’m about to post my 1st actual complaint about the BMCC: I was hoping for an electronic m43 mount, not a passive one. My collection of electronic m43 lenses can’t be used on a passive mount. Sigh. Well at least I can use my collection of old Nikkor primes via the Nikon F to m43 adapter I already own.

JB – thanks for the update. Glad you were finally able to get it off your chest! One thing – yes, SLR Magic started out making novelty lenses – but they also make the excellent $549 (US) 12mm T1.6 HyperPrime declicked Cine Lens for MFT – which will make an excellent first cinema lens for many users of this excellent MFT cinema camera.

Cheers, and thank you for all that you have done to blaze a trail for the BMCC community,

Thanks John. This news deserves a celebration.
Together with the limitation of the frame rate to 30 and the absent of m4/3 mount, were the most common complains to the camera. I feel confident about the direction the people at Blackmagic are taking in favor of independent filmmakers market.

Awaiting now for a highest frame rate as the next priority.
Thanks once again for the great news.

Won’t be difficult to mount a battery run and gun. But, it is called a ‘cinema camera’ for a reason. It’s purpose is controlled environments. The internal battery is so you can use it untethered for a short period of time.

@Mike
MFT is way more adaptable than EF mount. You can throw basically anything with a longer Flange Focal Distance at the MFT mount. Including EF mount manual lenses. Check this (list of lens mounts): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_mount

In other words: you have the whole history of optics at your disposal, apart from some new mirrorless mounts.

Hi John!
There´s one thing I can´t understand, why the crop factor will remain at 2.3x? I know the sensor in the BMDCC MTF is the same, but you´ll use m4/3 lenses which are specially made for de m4/3 sensor, which is much smaller than the “full frame” sensor and a little bigger but similar to the BMDCC sensor, shouldn´t then the crop factor be smaller? Please correct me if I´m wrong. Thanks in advance.

@Luis V, it´s very easy. Don´t mix up sensor sizes with lens mounts! The lens mount is MFT, the sensor is the same as before. The biggest difference is that MFT lens mount has a FFD (flange focal distance) of 19.25mm in relation to the FFD of 44mm of EF mount. (apart from obvious differences regarding electronic contacts, different bayonet e.t.c.)

The “crop factor” will be the same as before. The sensor size is the same. It wont change no matter what lens you use with it.
.

Ok, I got it, the crop factor of the BMDC is 2.3x compared to that of the “full frame” found in the 5D no matter what mount we use. Now, does anybody know what is the crop factor between BMDC and m4/3 sensor?

Luis V: it depends on which m4/3 sensor you are talking about. The multi-aspect gh2 has a 16:9 that has a horizontal crop factor of 1.86x. The regular m4/3 sensor or gh2 sensor in 4:3 width is exactly 2x. Co-incidentally the same width (or just about) as bmc sensor.
Effectively the bmc is 2x, horizontally.

so those opting for 4/3 what lenses are recommended, what’s are the better lenses out there? i imagine going with the 4/3 mount is also better too so you can go wider something you can’t easily do on the c mount?